744 OPERATIOKS UPON THE EYE AND EAR. 



It is an affection which is quite frequent in dogs, as the result 

 of localized chronic conjunctivitis. It is characterized by a tume- 

 faction of the organ, more or less developed, pedunculated, pro- 

 truding in the inner commissure of the lids, and accompanied 

 by lachrymation, caused by the obstruction of the lachrymal 

 punctse. 



While at the outset anodynes and astringent collyria may some- 

 times control its development, there are many cases in which its 

 removal by ligature or excision is indicated. Silk is recommended 

 by Leblanc as the best material for a ligature, but elastic thread 

 is in our judgement much to be preferred. 



Excision is far preferable. The operation is a simple one, con- 

 sisting in merely severing the peduncle with a curved scissors or 



Fig. 535.— Bistoury for the Excision of the EnoantUis. 



a bistoury (Fig. 535), ad hoc. The comparative abundant hemor- 

 rhage that follows is controlled by cold water applications. The 

 wound which remains is treated on general principles. 



JB. — On the Lachrymal Ducts. 



The occlusion or obUteration of these little canals by foreign 

 bodies, or as the result of inflammation of their mucous membrane, 

 sometimes occurs in horses. Its characteristic symptom is an 

 abundant and continual lachrymation, and it is only by careful 

 examination of the condition of the orifices of the lachrymal punc- 

 tse, that a con'ect diagnosis can be assured; a thick, muco-puru- 

 lent discharge sometimes oozing from them. Though this diffi- 

 culty often subsides by resolution of the inflammation, or the use 

 of washes and collyria, there are cases where surgical interfer- 

 ence, of the nature of a true catheterism of the duct, with possi- 

 bly an enlargement of its canal with the bistoury, cannot be dis- 

 pensed with. The probe of Bowmann (Fig. 536), and the knife 

 of Weber (Fig. 537), answer the purpose very well. 



The animal is placed in the decubital position, the grooved 

 probe introduced into the duct, and its wall divided with the knife, 

 guided by the groove of the probe. 



